Anyone Can Catch a Redfish

 Back south we went today when I met David Vide and his son Nathaniel out at the Goffinsville Park boat
ramp early.  The tide had been going out for about two hours but we made a quick run around to Seymores and set up tossing float rig up to a grassy point in hopes that we'd get a good drift with the current. It was kinda strange that we didn't have much current...and not much biting!

We then made a run down the Nassau to Spanish Drop, turned into the current (there was one here!) and worked the bank, tossing close the grass - we had no takers. But after moving up a couple of hundred yards to a drainage and switching to jigs and live shrimp, that did the trick. In fact, the "demo" cast produced a hookup which Nathaniel promptly reeled in. Then both he and David had hookups and landed a Seatrout. 

The tide had now been going out about three hours so we made a long run up  the Nassau and worked into a creek and began to work the edge with the jigs. Nathaniel got hot and put a couple of feisty Redfish in the boat, then both he and his dad caught Reds - we had a "double" a couple of times. Then as we worked up the bank Nathaniel hooked up and this one ripped some drag, then boiled, a bigger fish. Nathaniel played it perfectly and landed a nice 20" Slot Redfish. He went back to the same spot with a couple of casts and put another Slot Redfish in the boat. With our limit in the boat, we headed back to Nassauville.

Fishing a drainage, David hooked up deep and landed another Trout, then we finished up back around at Seymore's where they picked up another couple of feisty Reds. The breeze had picked up and had thankfully  blown the Sand Gnats off so as we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Rebound Day

We had a super slow day yesterday fishing south so when I talked to Bob Blalock last evening we voted to try north today! I met Bob up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park and with a loaded baitwell of live shrimp, mud  minnows, and a newly bought bag of Gulp baits, we headed north and west and eased in to the outside of Tyger to fish a drainage in hoped of catching some flounder. As usual, Bob was making excellent casts and when we didn't get any bites at the drainage, we drifted with the current, pitching to the bank on an outgoing tide. Again, not a nibble.

So we picked up and ran, up the Jolley, and around to the MOA where we set up deep, pitching forward into the current, and this did the trick. In short order Bob caught a hungry  Seatrout, then another, then another. one of which was of keeper size. Then he "hung" on the bottom, pulled it off, and BAM! He had a fish. This one ripped a little bit of drag and put a bend in the rod and when Bob boated it we measured it to be a 19" Slot Redfish (all fish caught today were released).

Our next stop was around at Bell River, fishing to the bank and letting our jigs bounce down the river
bottom.  Again, right off, Bob hooked up and landed a whiting, then we caught a good handful of fish - Seatrout, Black "puppy" Drum and Redfish. A couple of the Trout were of keeper size. 

The tide was just about to hit bottom so we made the long run back around to Tyger. We now fishing the first of an incoming tide. We had noted that a mud minnow had not caught a fish all day, but when we dragged one deep and a fish took it, boy was it a fish! This fish was digging deep and ripping drag - Bob saw it boil up and declared it a Redfish, but it was a few minutes before we could confirm it - a huge 27" (maybe a Slot, Maybe not), boy what a fish. We had done a good rebound from the previous day so as we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

15 Minutes of Fame

 Kicking off the weekend early, I met Todd Johnson and his fishing buddy Patrick Davis up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. We made a run down the intercoastal and found some structure to fish with jig and mud minnows on a tide that had been coming in for an hour or so. I think it was Patrick's first cast and as he let the jig bounce down the river bottom, it looked like he may be snagged but, BAM! Big Fish ON!  We were in for a battle but Patrick was up for the task. The big fish dug deep and Patrick kept the pressure on, working it up off the bottom - a Big Redfish - then it would dive deep. That happened a few times before we were able to get a net under it and land an oversized 28.5" Redfish! This fish pushed Patrick into First Place in the Anglers Mark 2022 Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category. Boy what a fish!  We continued to fish that spot and shortly after it was 
Todd's turn to fight the big fish, which he expertly did, and landed a "Tourney" sized Red, 26.75" and boy was it a bull! Then  Patrick put a 24" Slot Red in the boat! Crazy huh?

We eventually moved down the way a bit - Patrick added a small Slot Red to the catch, then Todd hooked up and Big Fish On! Hah!  He battled it patiently, keeping the pressure on, and eventually landed a oversized 29" Redfish, to take the lead in the Anglers Mark 2022 Bragging Rights Tournament.....Redfish Category! Patrick's 15 minutes of fame, was over! Hah!  Scroll down the right side of this report for Bragging Rights standings. 

After making a run down the river we eased up in behind a dock and fished the pilings. Again, Patrick's first cast produced a big bite. This fish was big and pulling hard, but it was already around some pilings and eventually the line went tight and, BAP, fish off!  Todd caught and landed a feisty Redfish, then Patrick hooked up and landed another Slot Red. We picked up another couple of fish, then moved on. 

Switching to floats, we fished Soap Creek(no bites), Lanceford Creek(no bites), Bell River(no bites) then the outside of Tyger where Todd finally knocked the skunk off the floats with a feisty Redfish catch. After touring Cumberland Island to see some wild horses, we headed for the dock and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

By The Numbers

 We had another nice morning today, albeit a bit windy as the day wore on. I had met Joe and Karen (Miller)(bannana girl)  Szkaradnik and Joe's brother John down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we made a run uip the intercoastal, over thru Back River and around to Pumpkin Hill with plans to drift fixed floats down a flooding marsh line. It might of been Joe's first drift, or maybe the second when he hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout. We had a another nibble or two but more takers, so we moved on. 

The next stop was a way up a creek off of the Nassau River where we turned into the current of an incoming tide and fished the bank with jigs and shrimp. We hadn't been fishing but for a few minutes when John, after making an excellent cast, hooked up and, Fish On!  John played it perfectly and battled it to the net to land a nice 20" Slot sized Redfish. We worked that bank pretty good - about 75 yards - and they were getting good casts, but didn't have much else until John hooked up with another feisty Redfish. 

After running back to the Christopher Creek area we fished jigs around some dock pilings and here it was Joe's turn to battle the big fish. When I heard him hookup and the drag rip we knew it was a big fish. Joe worked it to the boat patiently and soon landed a big 23" Slot Red, boy what a fish!

Our last stop was around at Seymore's Pointe, fishing float rig and Joe wrapped things up with a hungry Seatrout catch. We had caught just a few fish but had a couple of quality ones in the boat so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

From Nursery to Primary School

 I fished with John Raker this morning, picking him up out at the Oyster Bay Marina early, then we headed down the Amelia River to fish some structure on a tide that had been going out for a few hours. John was tossing jigs and shrimp to some rocks and letting it slowly fall down the river bottom and the technique paid off when he started catching some small but feisty Redfish. Most were in the 16-17" range, or as John called them, "nursery fish". But he did get a couple that were just slightly in the Slot. 

We also had a big fish on, this one digging deep, ripping drag and staying close to the bottom - a fish that I thought surely was a Black Drum, but a couple of minutes in to the fight it just threw the hook, Ouch! Before we left that spot John also landed a Flounder on a slip float rig. 

We made our way back up the Amelia and eased in to behind Piney Island and fished some dock pilings on the last of the outgoing tide and here things really heated up. beginning with an excellent cast John had made under a gangway, Fish On!  After landing another Slot sized Red it was one fish after another - we counted at least 15, most smaller but another in the Slot range. 

When the tide turned we ran over to Tyger Island and fished the incoming there and although the tide was right, the wind was blowing right up the river and the shoreline was murckey with mud. John did manage to score an Amelia Island Back Country Slam when he hooked up and landed a feisty Black "puppy" Drum. The sun had been out all day, we hadn't had to deal with any wind to speak of, so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

We Knocked It Out of the Park

 

I fished again today with Bob Blalock but this time we elected to do an afternoon trip and meet up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. The tide had been going out for a couple of hours as we made our way to our first spot in  homes of bettering our "catch" from yesterday. And boy did we!  We pulled up to a small drainage and began tossing live shrimp on a jig and Bob got things started with a small Flounder catch. Then he hooked up with a small Redfish, then another, then another, then another, then another... and it was "Game On"!  Then we had a good bite that ripped some drag - a bigger fish. Bob fought it patiently and after a good battle, landed a nice 25" Slot sized Redfish.

We caught fish for almost 2 hours!  Bob put a couple of smaller Slot fish in the boat (all fish but one flounder were released today), then he had another BIG bite. This fish was big and took Bob deep and stayed deep. There was some structure behind us  and it was close quarters with no room for maneuvering but Bob kept the pressure on, worked the fish up to the surface, and we saw it was a huge Black Drum! But the fish went deep again, ripping drag as it went so Bob had to patiently work back to the surface and we eventually landed a nice 25" Black 'puppy" Drum - caught on a size 1000 Florida Fishing Products reel - and the crowd went wild!

A while later Bob battled and landed another big Slot Redfish, this one measuring in at 26" - I think big enough to set the bar in the all new 2023 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category.

The bite finally slowed so we ran back towards Fernandina, fished some dock pilings, and caught 7-8 more feisty Redfish. We finished the day over at Tyger Island, working the bank with the jigs, and picked up a few more Redfish, a couple of small Black Drum, a small Seatrout and....one keeper sized Flounder. We headed back to the dock with the sun setting and we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Great February Day of Fishing

Clear skies, little wind and a beautiful sunrise greeted us out at Goffinsville Park when I met Bob Blalock for a half day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. We made a short run around to some docks at Seymore's Pointe and fished it thoroughly on a mid tide, coming in, and actual had some bit of action, catching a good handful of hungry Seatrout, then a keeper sized Flounder.   We came back around to some docks at Nassauville and fished them. Here, Bob hooked up and landed a hungry Flounder and a feisty Redfish.

The tide was up with just a bit before it hit high so we crossed over and went down to Pumpkin Hill and fished float rigs over some flooded oysters, but only had a nibble. We then made our way up into Christopher Creek and fished the bend with jigs and live shrimp, but had no bites.

Our next stop, after a 10 minute run was down at Sawpit Creek, fishing jigs on the first of an outgoing tide. We had just a nibble or two, lost a couple of jigs on the rocks, then Bob had a strong hookup and, Fish On!  He played it perfectly, even with the wake thrown by a couple of passing yachts, and soon landed a nice 23" 10 spot slot sized Redfish. 

We fished further down the intercoastal, drifting floats, and picked up a handful of Bluefish to wrap up another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Re-Connecting Fishing Buddies

 

Yesterday I fished with Carmen Santamaria who had his old time fishing buddy Tony with him when we met up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. There was just a slight breeze and clear skies as we headed over to the outside of Tyger Island on the very first of an outgoing tide. I had live shrimp in the well for these two anglers to bait up their float rigs and soon they were fishing a grass line as that current started out. We got some bites right off but no takers until Tony hooked up with a Seatrout to "knock the skunk off".  Then we saw a "ripple" up in a pocket of grass and Tony made a perfect cast up past it, let it drift and BAM! Fish On! Tony played it perfectly and a after a good battle brought to the net a nice Slot Redfish (all fish caught today were released).

We crossed the way after that and fished another grass line briefly, then made our way over to Lanceford
Creek where we fished a grassy island, then a bulkhead, to no avail.. Our next stop was back around at Soap Creek and again, no fish. 

The tide had gotten down a bit so we found some dock pilings to fish with jigs and this paid off. Carmen got on the board with a nice Redfish catch, then both anglers were catching fish - Redfish - most of them small but a couple of keeper size. Just when I would think that the bite had quit, they'd hookup! We had beautiful weather and the fish cooperated so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Beautiful Day for a Birthday

 We had a beautiful morning greet us when I met Bob Kossman down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp with plans to make a morning of fishing on his birth day! We eased around to the old bridge and set up fishing with slip floats and live shrimp, fishing 14' deep,  on a tide that had been coming in for a couple of hours. Although we had one or two bites, we had no takers so we re-positioned to the other side of the bridge and stayed with the slip floats. This paid off with a few Bluefish catches - all almost the exact same size.

Then we made a run up the Nassau River to some docks and fished the pilings with jigs and live shrimp. There was almost zero current and I think that affected the bite (there was none). We eventually set up out deep (17') and pitched up to shallower water and this did the trick. We began to pick up Seatrout - a couple of them slammed the jig/shrimp pretty hard. Of the handful we caught, one of them was of keeper size.

Our next stop was down at Nassauville, fishing the jigs, and again we picked up a Trout or two. Continuing on, we made our way down to Broward Island and fished under the watchful eye of a Bald Eagle. Bob's first cast produced another hungry Seatrout. The next stop was up at Pumpkin Hill, drifting fixed floats.  The first few drifts produced no bites but I had seen some "nervous" water up in a pocket and as a drifted back Bob made a perfect cast and in just a minute his float slowly went under. Bob was patient, let the fish have it, then lifted his rod and set the hook. He could tell this fish was a bit bigger than the Seatrout we had been catching and sure enough, he brought to the net a fine Redfish. 

After hitting one more spot on the first of an outgoing tide we headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great birth day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

New Year - Great Fishing

 I kicked off the new year yesterday fishing with Allen and Lavern Webb, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early on a clear sunny morning - and just a small bit of breeze-a great day for fishing! We bumped around to the Sawpit bridge and set up just as the tide started out, drifting slip floats in about 12' of water, back to the pilings and picked up a good handful of Seatrout, most in the 14" range.

We then made the run up the Nassau River to a large outflow at Seymore's Pointe, now drifting fixed 4 Horseman floats and here we again caught Trout. Lavern "went long" and picked up a keeper sized one. We bounced around a dock, drifted the floats, then came back to the other side and pitched jigs and live shrimp, but had no takers.

Our next stop was over at the mouth of Jackstaff, throwing the fixed floats at a a drainage and then along some marsh grass. We didn't get a nibble so we ran back thru Horsehead and around to the Nassauville docks where we went back to the jigs and this paid off with some Seatrout catches, deep, 18' of water.

The final stop was back fishing some dock pilings with the tide down a bit. Both anglers were getting "nibbles" but no takers until we had a strong bite and Fish On!  Lavern was on the rod and patiently worked the big fish to the boat. After a good battle she landed  a nice 21" Slot sized Redfish. We had a beautiful sunny day and had some action here and there so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Book Ended By Trout

 I wrapped up my week, and my year, fishing with the Averbuch's -Mark, his son Jared, and his 8yo grandson Max, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning. And, coincidently, last year my last trip was with the Averbuch's! I even counseled them that last years' trip was going to be hard to top - we had a good trip! 

We made a short run around to the bridge at Sawpit and set up to drift slip floats and live shrimp back to the pilings and it was Max who had the first hookup, yelling "Fish On". He played it perfectly to the boat but it was not to be -the Seatrout threw the hook right at the boat! But Max wasn't to be deterred, and began to get good drifts back and it paid off. - he hooked up another one and this time landed the Trout, a keeper!  From then on he and his Grandad Mark were catching Seatrout off the stern while Jared was left on the bow to try his hand at tossing a DOA plastic shrimp - white with chartreuse tail. He did hook up an land one - another keeper. Mark had drifted long, past the pilings and into the rising sun but he saw his float go under, lifted, and let the circle hook set and Big Fish On!  He worked it slowly to the net as it dug deep a few times but eventually he brought to the net a big 21.25" Gator Trout! Boy what a fish!

Our next stop as up the Nassau where we fished some exposed shell beds on the very last of the outgoing tide with jigs and shrimp. Jared kept the skunk off by hooking up and landing a lone Trout. We continued on up the river, fished a drainage, then continued on to Bubblegum Reef where we tried our hand at losing some jigs to the structure!

After bumping over to Seymore's docks we fished deep for a bit, dropped way back and fished some abandoned pilings, then moved back up a dock after it was vacated by another anglers. Here, Jared had a strong hookup, some drag ripped, then, Fish Off! Ouch. But Jared went back with another excellent cast and again hooked up. This fish was fighting different than the Trout and sure enough, when he brought i to the surface, we saw that it was a nice 17" Sheepshead - another nice catch.

We finished the day down at some docks at Nassauville. I had thought that we had a pretty good day going already, but this was just icing on the cake. From the first cast, Jared was catching Seatrout with the jig an shrimp. Mark got in on the action and caught a few. Max, who was doing an admirable job casting (better than most teen-agers- soon found  his niche and picked up some Seatrout then he was the one that had the strange hookup. This fish was pulling hard but Max was up to the task and battled the fish to the net to land a feisty Redfish - the first one on the boat for a day. Then he teamed up with his Grandfather to battle in another Redfish, this one was digging deep- they tag teamed it and soon landed a fat 24" Slot Red - another great fish. The sun was up, the weather had warmed so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Redfish On Fire #2

 I fished a "double" today and went out this afternoon. After having a super fine-Christmas-left-overs-ham-sandwich at the Old Town Bait and Tackle picnic tables I met Tim Parker and his son Wes with plans to try and duplicate this morning's trip. I knew it would be a struggle early with that high tide we were facing - we're just not getting any fish on the high with these cold waters (water temp was 46 this morning).  But we had a plan! We made a cold run all the way  up to the Jolley River where we eased into Snook Creek and broke out some jigs and live shrimp to fish a deep hole. Although we had a nibble or two we had not takers. We worked some grass with floats then moved up into a small creek as the tide started out and tossed the jigs again. No bites!

But the tide was beginning to move so we made a run around to Bell River and set up above a dock and here Wes "knocked the skunk off" by landing a keeper sized 17" Sheepshead. He then hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout. I was feeling a bit better and sure enough we began to get more bites and more fish. This duo landed a couple of more Trout, one of which was keeper size, then they put a few feisty Redfish in the boat. 

The tide was really getting down so we made the run back to Eagans Creek and to the "hot dock". The  minute we were set up we began to get bites - one Redfish after the other. Most of them were 16"-17.75" but we had a few that were in the Slot, the biggest being just over 20".  We fished and caught until the sun was about to go down had to "leave them biting", but as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Redfish On Fire

 I had a couple of days earlier this week where we struggled to get some fish so I really needed this morning! I had met Brad G. and his son Jake up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle this morning - it was fairly cool, but not as cold as the past few days. But the sun was out and we had almost no wind. We made our way over to Eagans Creek and set up to fish some dock pilings on the first of an incoming tide and from almost the first cast it was, Fish On! Both of these anglers stayed busy catching Redfish ranging from 16" up to just over the Slot of 18". They guestimated they caught at least 30 fish!   We stayed there for about 2 hours, then finally made a move. Our next stop was over at Soap Creek where we drifted float rigs shallow on a higher incoming tide but we didn't get a nibble. We wrapped up the day fishing over behind Tyger Island, fishing deep, and again, to no avail. We had a good morning but as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Frosty Fishing

I fished yesterday afternoon, and this morning, and both trips were a bit "frosty", but the weather was beautiful otherwise!  Yesterday afternoon I met Eric Feith and his son Jonah out at Goffinsville Park on a tide that had just hit high. We fished a large drainage with float rigs, then backed off and fished deep with jigs and live shrimp; we fished the Nassauville Rocks deep, then fished Broward Island deep - Jonah did get a keeper sized Flounder. We ran down to Sawpit Creek and fished the bridge, deep with jigs and live shrimp, then fished just south of Sawpit ramp and here Jonah reeled in a hungry Seatrout.  It was kinda slow but it was a beautiful day, and we had sightings of porpoise, shore birds, and a Bald Eagle.

This morning I met Henrietta Reason and her two sons Eric and Evan down at Sawpit Creek. We made the run up the Nassau to fish some docks on the first of an incoming tide. Although the bite was slow, Evan, after making a perfect cast up to the pilings and had a good strong hookup, and Fish On! Evan patiently played it to the boat and landed a Slot sized Redfish. After moving around the corner and fishing deep with jigs, it was Henrietta's turn to have the big bite. She hooked up and expertly brought to the boat a 17" Seatrout. We fished Broward Island, both north and south, then Pumpkin Hill, deep with the jigs and shallow with the floats, then finished up over at Nassauville, fishing deep with the jigs. Again, we had a beautiful day with porpoise rolling around us and a Bald Eagle keeping a watchful eye so we counted it as two good days of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.  

Cool Trout

We had a fairly cool morning today, 46 degrees when I launched up at Dee Dee Bartels Park - but it was sunny and clear with just a breeze. James Bush and his High School buddies, Andrew and Mason,  had all met here at Amelia Island for a few days of rest, relaxation, and....a fishing trip in the back waters of Amelia Island.  We made a run north and west and over to the Jolley River and began fishing the "bank" with float rigs and live shrimp on a tide that had been going out of a couple of hours. Throwing it right into the sun made it difficult to see the float. These guys were getting good casts and good drifts but we only had a couple of bites that didn't "take".  

After running further up the river to Snook Creek James was able to "knock the skunk off" with a hungry Seatrout catch. We fished the outside with the floats then moved inside and tossed jigs for a bit, to no avail. We stopped at the MOA and tossed the jigs briefly but the oysters still weren't showing so we were casting blind.

Our next stop was around at the docks of Bell River and we stuck with the jigs. Mason was fishing off the stern and went up to the pilings with a good cast and it paid off, Fish On! He worked it to the boat and landed a keeper sized Sheepshead (all fish caught today were released). James picked up another Trout off the bow before we moved down a few docks to the "honey hole".

And the move paid off! All three anglers began to catch Seatrout off the bottom with the jigs. Andrew was fishing off the stern and got in on the action, catching a few of the Trout. About the time I'd think we needed to move on, they'd catch another Trout. A couple of these were of keeper size.

Our final stop was back at Egans Creek, fishing some dock pilings on the last of the outgoing tide. It took a few casts but eventually we were able to get some feisty Redfish to round out an Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Seatrout, Sheepshead, and Redfish. Again, all three anglers put Redfish in the boat and James topped it off with another Sheepshead catch. And we that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

The GPK Challenge

 We had a cold front come thru Thursday which left us with a clear and cool Friday morning when I met
Suzanna Braun, her son Mike and her friend Garland down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. But we were all dressed warm with layers and after a short run up the Nassau we made our first stop at some exposed shell on a tide that still had about an hour to finish hitting bottom. All three anglers were making excellent casts with jigs and live shrimp to the bank but we had no real bites.

We ran over to some docks at Nassauville and set up again to toss the jigs and here we had some luck. Garland was at the stern and letting his jig fall down the river bottom and he picked up a few hungry Seatrout while the other anglers had "nibbles" from the bait stealers. After moving around to another dock it was Suzanna's turn to land the fish - she hauled in a nice keeper sized sheepshead, then a undersized Sea Bass. All three tangled with feisty Bluefish.

Our next stop was down at Broward Island where we fished one area as we waited for the tide to turn and
start back in. When it did, we moved down the island and began working back. I thru out the "GPK" for some incentive and Suzanna stepped up to the challenge - almost immediately - and after a perfect cast to the bank, BAM! Fish On!  Suzanna worked it to the boat and landed a golden-coppered-colored Slot 23" Redfish. And shortly after that she reeled in a smaller but feisty Redfish.

After working that bank we moved up to Pumpkin Hill and drifted floats long with the live shrimp and here Garland heated up with a couple of Seatrout catches. The temperature had warmed and we'd had some good catches so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Trying to Make a Double LImit

 

You know it's a good day of fishing here at Amelia Island when you make your limit on Slot Redfish and are real close to getting the limit in Trout. The wind was really howling yesterday but when I saw the forecast for this morning it called for just a breeze and when I met Fred Wommack up at Dee Dee Bartels Park that's just what we had.  We made a quick run over to Egans Creek and found some dock pilings to fish on the first of an incoming tide. (as we were running there was so much moisture in the air it felt like it was raining). 

Fred began to pitch to the pilings and I thought for sure it would be
only seconds before he got a bite. But those seconds became minutes and then multiple minutes until finally he hooked up and landed a small Seatrout. I was about to leave but thought while we were there we should try the other side and this did the trick! Fred began to hookup and land one Redfish after the other - most all of them small  - some right under the slot at 17.5",  and then one that just made it into the Slot at 18.25" He stayed busy catching and releasing fish until we moved back to the other side.

This time Fred stayed deep, fishing the end of the dock and the strategy paid off. BAM! Big Fish ON!  Fred played it expertly to the boat and landed a nice 23" Slot Redfish. And shorty after that he had another strong hookup. This fish dug deep and stayed deep for a good while and I was beginning to wonder if it wasn't oversized. But after Fred brought it to the net it measured just a little over 26", boy what a fish!

Fred kept his limit of (1) Redfish but he wasn't done! He began to catch Seatrout out deep and in short order had 4 in the box and I thought for sure he'd get his Trout limit. After catching a few smaller ones we made the run up to Soap Creek and fished a stretch of grass where we caught one small Trout.

Our last stop was over a "Millie's Spot" in Lanceford, fishing a grass patch and again, it was non-stop action, catching one Seatrout after another. We just needed ONE big one!  Fred put a couple of 14.75" fish in the boat but we just couldn't  get that 5th fish. But as we headed back to the ramp we knew we'd had a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

On Golden Marsh

 Wow! What a pretty morning we had today! I had met Bob Kossman and Bruce Beauchamp down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and as we ran up the river we had some fog issues but as we eased in to Jackstaff it cleared and we set up to fish off of a side creek with float rigs and live shrimp. As the sun came up it gave the marsh grass a beautiful golden glow. We worked that area back and forth and picked up a couple of hungry Seatrout.

After running thru the marsh we made our way down to Twin Creeks again tossed the float rigs. We had no bites there but then we eased along the bank, tossing to the marsh grass. Bruce had a strong hookup, one that "ripped some drag" - he played it expertly and after a good fight landed a nice 21" Slot Redfish. We fished on, and in just a few feet Bob had the strong bite. This fish was big!  You can always tell when the fish stays up by the bank for a while, refusing to budge. But Bob kept the pressure on, worked it out into the deeper water, then played it patiently and eventually subdued an oversized 28.25" Redfish, boy what a fish!

We then made our way back to the Seymore's Pointe area and fished a large drainage with the float rigs. Both anglers were getting excellent casts and it paid off - they would toss it up above a grassy pointe, let it drift around the corner and across a submerged shell bed and BAM! Fish On!  We caught a good handful of Seatrout with a few of them being of keeper size, but all tossed back. 

Our next stop was down to the mouth of Back River, fishing a shell bank on the outgoing tide. We had no bites, but I know I saw at least two big fish "roll" along the grass. Our final stop was down at Spanish Drop then we made our way back to the boat ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

One After Another

 

Yesterday I fished with Gregg and Dannie Fitzgerald out of Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We fished some docks at Nassauville where I was sure we'd have good success using jigs and live shrimp,  but all we picked up were a couple of Sea Bass and a "bait stealer". We then fished the Nassau River, tossing the jigs, but to no avail. But when we switched to float rigs we began to get some fish. The duo caught a couple of feisty Redfish and a good handful of Seatrout, one of which was of keeper size.

Today Dannie decided to stay home for some rest but Gregg brought along his father and his partner Ginnie and I met them at the Old Town Bait Shop ramp. We had a west wind still blowing so a quickly crossed over the intercoastal, hugged Tyger Island north and found some flooded marsh grass to fish with float rigs and live shrimp. But we had  no bites. We crossed over a creek and fished some more grass, and again, no bites. 

After running thru Tyger, around to the Bell and up Landsford we found a grassy island where Guy finally "knocked the skunk off" with a feisty Redfish catch. We fished that spot some more, moved over to a couple of more grassy islands, had some nibbles, then made a short run back to Soap Creek. There, we fished a large outflow with the floats, again, no bites, then we worked the bank for a bit, and again, no bites.  What the heck?

So we made the run back to Egans Creek, and found some dock pilings to fish, switching to jigs and the shrimp. The "demo" cast produced a bite - we hooked up and Ginnie reeled in a Redfish. And from then on....it was one fish hookup after another!  Rat Red, Rat Red, Rat Red, Slot Red, Rat Red, Slot Red, Rat Red, Rat Red, Rat Red, Black Drum, Rat Red, Black Drum, Rat Red, Rat Red, Slot Red, BIG REd, Rat Red, Slot Red, Rat Red, Black Drum, Flounder, Slot Red, Slot Red, Rat Red, Rat Red -- We would have had to have a "clicker" to count them. But we did count the Slot fish and ended up with at least 10( there might have been a few that I didn't measure that were right at the 18" mark). We had numerous "double" hookups and ended the day with Guy and his Dad reeling in double Slot Redfish. As we eased back to the dock we counted it as another GREAT day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Count'n Species

Back to work today, fishing with Robert Stetner and David Vice after meeting them out at Goffinsville Park early this morning. The tide still had about an hour and a half of going out so we made our way down the Nassau River and turned into the current to fish an exposed shell bed with live shrimp and jigs. Robert "knocked the skunk off" when went close to shore with a perfect cast and BAM, he had a hookup. Robert worked it to the boat patiently and landed a feisty Redfish. We worked that bank thoroughly and picked up a good handful of those smaller Reds, but Robert did add a Slot sized fish to the catch.

After moving up a bit David put a keeper sized Flounder in the boat (tossed back due to the closed season) then Robert battled a 4' Bonnethead to the boat for pictures and release. Moved up the river a bit more and got in to some more feisty Redfish. The duo of anglers also caught a few Seatrout, one of which was keeper size; they landed a Stingray and a couple of different versions of "baitstealers"

The tide had started back in so we fished some docks at Seymore's, had a big one on that threw the hook, then we headed down to Broward Island where we worked the bank with the jigs. Again, we found a few feisty Redfish, then it was David's turn for the strong hookup. He battled it expertly, let it run, worked it in, and eventually landed the biggest Red of the day, a nice 23" Slot fish.

We finished the day fishing back at Nassauville were these anglers added a small Black "puppy" Drum and a small Mangrove Snapper to the catch, then we headed back to the ramp, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.